Hutchinson Regional Medical Center is establishing new payment procedures, including partial payment for Emergency Department patients as well as those undergoing elective tests and procedures in Radiology, Lab and Outpatient Surgery, effective January 15, 2014.
Ken Johnson, COO/CFO for Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, said the updated policy is not uncommon among healthcare facilities throughout the nation and is necessitated by several factors including cuts in reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid along with expenses incurred by serving uninsured patients.
Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System employs 1,400 and ranks as the largest employer in Reno County and the surrounding area.
Johnson said more than 25,000 patients were served by the Hutchinson Regional Medical Center emergency department during 2013, equal to the populations of McPherson and Pratt.
Emergency Department and Outpatient Lab patients will be asked to make a partial payment of $60, or the amount indicated on their insurance card if it is indicated. Those requesting elective services in Outpatient Radiology and Outpatient Surgery will be requested to pay $200 at the time of their registration.
Amid the reimbursement changes affecting the Healthcare System organizations, the Hospital has re-engineered its financial assistance policies and services to now include an on-site representative from The Midland Group, a not-for-profit organization with the mission of assisting patients in applying for public benefits, and the addition of a prompt pay discount available to all patients with a personal balance due. These are in addition to a charity care policy containing a sliding fee scale based on Federal poverty guidelines, which in some cases can result up to a 100% discount.